The CEE Countries and the European Union’s Energy Transition: Economic Analysis of Law

Abstract

This research identifies the role played by both the EU’s basic energy rules (which encourage the adoption of national energy sources) and energy transition legislation (based on regulations and directives) and clarifies that the legal need to transpose directives into the internal legal system can generate delays in the adoption of political and legislative measures by CEE countries depending on the weighting of political, economic, and social stimuli and disincentives. A number of general and specific factors (energy efficiency of buildings, renewable energy, and mobility) are then analysed and a broad set of disincentives are identified. The conclusion of this chapter is that there is a strong risk that this region will be left behind (relative to Western European countries) in the energy transition process.